Wizard-based voice/data telecommunications system installation and configuration tool

Abstract

The installation wizard tool comprises a singular tool that guides the service technician in an ordered manner through the entire installation of an integrated voice-data telecommunications system while also integrating the data obtained from auto-discovery, diagnostics, and customization activities, which tasks are all performed with a single tool, via a common service technician interface. The installation wizard tool is capable of enabling the service technician to complete the installation of an integrated voice-data telecommunications system to the point of functional station-to-station and/or station-to-trunk calling. The service technician only is required to input data that the installation wizard tool cannot discover on its own, or that the service technician desires to change from the default settings. These changes can be implemented without invoking other applications. The installation wizard tool accomplishes this by invoking other applications in a back end mode to render the execution of the tasks transparent to the service technician and managed via the single service technician interface on the installation wizard tool.

What is claimed:  
     
         1 . An installation tool for the installation and configuration of communication equipment, comprising: 
 service technician interface means for providing a service technician with access to said installation tool via a computer;    view generation means for presenting said service technician with information screens for display on said computer to enable said service technician to manage said installation and configuration via data collection fields displayed in said information screens;    data collection means for automatically collecting data that defines said communication equipment and its settings;    data management means for integrating data obtained from said service technician and said data collection means to substantially configure said communication equipment absent the use of additional tools.    
     
     
         2 . The installation tool of  claim 1  wherein said data collection means comprises: 
 auto-discovery means for automatically determining information about components of said communication equipment, including protocols used thereon.  
 
     
     
         3 . The installation tool of  claim 2  wherein said data management means comprises: 
 means for applying said automatically determining information to operating data fields of the communication equipment.  
 
     
     
         4 . The installation tool of  claim 3  wherein said data management means further comprises: 
 customization means, responsive to data received from a service technician, for modifying contents of said operating data fields, including those populated by said auto-discovery means.  
 
     
     
         5 . The installation tool of  claim 4  wherein said view generation means comprises: 
 a service technician interface, common to said auto-discovery means and said customization means, for communicating among these means and said service technician.  
 
     
     
         6 . The installation tool of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 diagnostic means for automatically performing diagnostics on said communication equipment and providing guidance to said service technician based upon results obtained from said diagnostics.  
 
     
     
         7 . The installation tool of  claim 6  wherein said data management means comprises: 
 means for applying data input by a one of said service technician and said diagnostic means into presently manipulated operating data fields.